HR 5672119th CongressIn Committee

Reducing Unnecessary Slowdowns in Handling Act

Introduced: Sep 30, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25] (R-Texas)

Civil Rights & JusticeEconomy & Taxes

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, titled the Reducing Unnecessary Slowdowns in Handling Act, would set firm processing deadlines for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and require regular public and congressional reporting on how permit and license applications are processed. Specifically, ATF would have to finish processing most applications within 90 days of receipt, and applications for licenses under 18 U.S.C. 923 (firearms dealer licenses) within 60 days. It would also require ATF to provide quarterly reports to Congress and the public detailing how many applications were received, approved, denied, or pending, how long processing took, and the reasons for any delays or denials. The bill would create an appeals process for denials or noncompliant processing, require internal oversight to identify causes of noncompliance, and mandate implementing reforms using existing funds (not through hiring new staff or purchasing new resources). Definitions clarify what counts as an application, who the Bureau is, and what constitutes an easily accessible report format.

Key Points

1Statutory processing deadlines
2- Most ATF applications: complete processing within 90 calendar days after receipt.
3- Section 923 license applications (firearms-related licenses): complete processing within 60 calendar days after receipt.
4Quarterly reporting and public disclosure
5- Beginning 90 days after enactment and every 90 days thereafter, ATF must report to House and Senate Judiciary and Oversight committees.
6- Reports must also be publicly available on ATF’s website.
7- Reports must include: counts of received/approved/denied/pending applications; processing time lengths; reasons for delays; reasons for denials (for the applicable 90-day period).
8Appeals and internal oversight
9- ATF must establish an appeals process for denied applications or for processing that is not in compliance with the deadlines.
10- ATF must create procedures to identify why noncompliance occurs and take corrective actions.
11Implementation funding and process reforms
12- Implementation must use existing ATF funds (no new hires or new resources).
13- The agency must streamline processes by eliminating repetitive reviews and outdated or duplicative steps that hinder timely processing.
14Definitions
15- Clarifies “application,” “Bureau,” and what constitutes an “easily accessible format” for reports.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Applicants for ATF permits/licenses (including firearms-related licenses under Section 923) and firearms dealers who must obtain or renew licenses.Secondary group/area affected- ATF operations and internal processes; congressional oversight committees (House Judiciary and Oversight and Accountability, Senate Judiciary).Additional impacts- Increased transparency about ATF processing times and decision reasons for the public and policymakers.- Potential pressure on ATF to meet deadlines with existing staff and resources, which could influence workload, prioritization, and the quality of review.- Possible implications for due process and accuracy if deadlines constrain thorough evaluation (the bill includes an appeals process to address denials).The bill’s deadlines start from receipt of an application; it does not explicitly specify how incomplete applications are handled, which could affect timing calculations.The funding limitation—no new hires or resources—means reforms must come from process improvements rather than expanding capacity.

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